Federal judge: Blind denied absentee voting access in Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A federal judge says that blind Ohio residents have been denied “meaningful access” to the swing state’s absentee voting system but that implementing changes would fundamentally alter the entire system.

The Columbus Dispatch reports (http://bit.ly/1T97b1O) U.S. District Judge George Smith made the ruling Wednesday, noting there isn’t enough time before the fall election to certify a new voting system.

Disability Rights Ohio sued in December, alleging blind people and those with certain disabilities are being denied an equal opportunity to independently and privately vote absentee by mail. They also claim Secretary of State Jon Husted’s (HYOO-steds) website doesn’t work with software that would improve the site’s accessibility.

Husted had contended that county boards of election already offer special accommodations for blind voters.